Stev187 has posted an interesting question: Q. What strategies have you employed to deal with students who have had greater-than-normal difficulty learning the double bass?
That is his short introduction. Please refer to the original post.
Questions and topic requests
First, I'd like to recommend a book called "Nurtured By Love" by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, the creator of the Suzuki violin method. Dr. Suzuki states that music is a language, and anyone capable of learning a spoken language should be able to learn music. He cautions us against comparing ourselves to others ("I wish I was as good as who ever"...usually someone who has played for years), and warns us that one who practices for three hours will sound like someone who has practiced for three hours...so if you want to sound good, you have to do the work.
Another great book is called "Effortless Mastery" by Kenny Werner. Among other things, Mr. Werner councils us to accept our own personal unique musical identity, and not to "beat ourselves up" for our shortcomings.
Both books say that (so called) "talent" is not "required" for one to enhance their lives through music. All you "need" is the desire to play, and the will to learn. Sure, you may not be the next Glenn Gould, Yo Yo Ma or Wynton Marsalis...but you can be YOURSELF!
There are many such books that offer the reader a fresh perspective. All are welcome, and all can contribute something of value.
All that said, to answer the original question: "What do I DO...?"
I encourage my students to read both of the books I mentioned.
Another thing I did was to teach myself other instruments using the methods I employ to teach bass. When I first started teaching I learned a very valuable lesson: That I had lost my perspective of what it really meant to be a beginner. My poor first few students got something like this: "Bass, yeah, here' how ya hold it, here's how ya tune it...alrighty then, lets get down to tritone substitution and secondary dominant chords!"
These were beginners! I was trying to teach them what I was working on...probably because I found it so interesting...but I didn't focus on what THEY NEEDED!
So I started on my second instrument...then my third, fourth and so on. Now I wouldn't hire myself for a gig on some of those instruments...but teaching myself how to play them really helped me become a better teacher...I no longer "taught bass"...now I teach MUSIC, and most of my students are or want to be bassists.
I learned that when anyone learns ANY instrument, they are learning TWO things: Technique and Musicianship.
Technique is how you physically make sound come from the instrument.
Musicianship is what you do with the sound once you know how to make it.
When teaching myself a new instrument, I quickly discovered that I had NO technique, but I did have my knowledge of musicianship. This helped me to understand the importance of things like ear training...which I didn't find very exciting in music school.
Who was at fault for that? Ultimately ME, but what if I had a teacher who was EXCITED about teaching? Someone who loved music as much as I did...I had one professor tell me that one of my favorite bands at the time (The Ramones) were CRAP.
WOW! Thanks a lot for teaching me to keep an OPEN MIND!
As I write this, I realize that I am rambling...so I will "Sum Up" a few ideas to help students that have trouble learning:
1- Patience
2- Enthusiasm (on the part of the teacher)
3- Help the student SET GOALS- short, medium and long term.
4- Encouragement.
5- Empathy- Try to put yourself in THEIR shoes.
Joe
